News
VSHS announces First Trimester Honor Roll
Scores of Vinton-Shellsburg High School students have received recognition for their academic performance throughout the first part of the school year.
Click HERE to see the T1 Honor Roll.
VS student Monaghan tackles world hunger; presents at World Food Prize event
This last spring, Vinton-Shellsburg High School student Shane wrote and presented a paper at the Iowa Food Prize. His paper addressed the relationship between national security, terrorism and food insecurity in Mali and how hunger cannot be addressed there without also addressing terrorism, corruption and national security.
Shane was one of 160 students world-wide to be named a Borlaug Scholar and was selected to present and defend his paper at the World Food Prize in October. VGH Tree Walk nets more than $10K
The Virginia Gay Hospital Tree Walk, in addition to helping begin the holiday season and helping dozens of local families decorate for the Christmas season, earned more than $10,000 for the Virginia Gay Hospital Foundation. The final total was $10,025.
"We would like to take the time to personally thank all those who participated in the annual Tree of Lights Tree Walk.
Angel Tree program sign-up under way; volunteers, donations sought
The annual Angel Tree program is now accepting applications from local families, and also seeks both donations and volunteers.
Through this program, the generosity of local individuals, businesses and organizations allows for families in need to receive clothing and new toys for children. This year, the distribution center is on W. 4th Street, just to the west of the Palace Theatre.
50 years: Light display Larry Kersten began in 1964 still brings many visitors
The moving mechanical Christmas display with tens of thousands of lights as a background is again open for holiday drive-by visitors.
Heidi Koopman and her helpers are continuing the tradition her father, Larry, began in 1964.
See more photos HERE.
See an earlier Vinton Today story about Larry's inspiration and creativity HERE. 'Here, Kitty, Kitty...' Vinton woman says cougar has been in her yard twice
While conservation experts doubt it, Vinton resident Nadine Leise says she has seen a cougar in her yard twice this year.
Nadine lives on 12th Street near the Iowa Braille School campus. She said she saw a cougar in the spring, when she took photos of paw prints in the mud. She said the animal returned after the first snow in November, and she took some more photos. Salvation Army bell-ringing under way in Vinton
Salvation Army bell-ringing will begin in Vinton on Wednesday, and coordinator Sarah Parker hopes many more people will sign up to ring the bells.
“We need more volunteers,” said Parker, who is organizing bell-ringing at Fareway. There will also be smaller donation kettles at Casey’s, John’s Qwik Stop and Koop’s Automotive. Turkey trot runners brave Thanksgiving cold for three miles
Despite the 2 degree temperature, participants say they had a great turn out of local runners for a Turkey Trot run Thanksgiving morning. Molly Noren and Alice Timmerman organized the event.
"We served hot chocolate and donuts out of my trunk when the race was over," says Molly.
Heather Kalous won the prize for best original running wear; she dressed as a turkey. Butterfly vs. Mushroom: 'New and Improved' Vinton Popcorn now on sale
The 14 members of the Vinton-Shellsburg Entrepreneurship class have been delivering a new variety of Vinton Popcorn to area stores as well as the Kacena Tree Farm.
"We are really excited about this," said instructor Aric Chvala.
The class has replaced the Mushroom variety of popcorn with one known as Butterfly.
Some people, said Chvala, had complained that the Mushroom variety kernels were too big and getting stuck in their teeth. Thanksgiving milestone: 5 years after diagnosis, Caleb Stewart is doing well
As Thanksgiving approaches, Caleb Stewart is merely one of 100+ Vinton-Shellsburg High School seniors who are preparing to graduate. He’s finishing his final year of school, helping the Entrepreneurship class sell its new variety of Vinton Popcorn, and hoping to enter the U.S. Army after graduation.
Thanksgiving 2009, however, brought the Stewart family – Caleb, his parents Maggie and John, and his brother, Nash – a challenge that gives new meaning to the holiday.